Concocting a Greener Mojito in Puerto Rico

The rum selection at Casa Don Q, Puerto Rico

Ya gotta give credit where credit is due. And in this case, it's to the makers of "Don Q. Rum" for concocting a cocktail staple in a truly sustainable fashion.

To get an inside peek at the distillery's eco-friendly initiatives, travelers to Puerto Rico can step into Casa Don Q. Don't worry - the museum tour ends with a sample drink. Inside, you'll get the scoop on how rum is crafted (did everyone else realize that rum is made using molasses?), including some surprisingly innovative green tactics. Take for instance, the CO2 released as the diluted molasses ferments, which the distillery captures and makes available to local soft drink producers for fizzier sips. A waste treatment system and energy harvest process are also in place... if you love the geeky side of green like me, you can find out more by visiting: http://donq.com/about/sustainability/.

Touting a heritage that dates back to 1865, Don Q was created by Don Juan Serralles, founder of the town Merceditas, named after his wife Mercedes (collective sigh here), and today, is being led in part by Roberto Serralles, who joined the family business to spearhead sustainability efforts after earning his PhD in Environmental Sciences. An undoubted green leader in the spirits industry, Don Q is revolutionizing green manufacturing in Puerto Rica, and we're all about it.

If you're a lover of rum (and really, who doesn't love an icy mojito?), consider stopping by Casa Don Q, located in Old San Juan's Bayfront area (Ochoa Building, ground floor / Marina Street / Old San Juan). Open every day except Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 878.977.1720.

Here, an interesting look at recent eco innovations in alcohol, if the topic suits you.